HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/04/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session ST.CITY LOUIOF S OFFICIAL MINUTES
PARK CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
April 22, 2002
The meeting convened at 7:01 p.m.
Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Jim Bnmeyer, Ron Latz, Chns Nelson, Susan
Sanger, Sue Santa, Sally Velick, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer), Director of Community Development (Mr.
Harmening), Planning Coordinator(Ms. Enckson), Housing Supervisor(Ms. Schnitker),
Housing Programs Coordinator(Ms. Larsen), Public Works Director(Mr. Rardin), Public Works
Coordinator (Mr. Merkley), Public Works Intern (Ms. Hellekson), and Administration Secretary
(Ms. Olson)
1. Southwest Corridor Rail Transit Study
Katie Walker from Hennepin County and Lonn Polansky from URS were present at the meeting.
Mr Polansky explained that the study is to be a year long with a final report in January 2003. He
spoke about concept design, downtown connections and the public process. He stated that the
public process would involve a technical advisory committee, news releases, community
meetings, a hotline, website and e-mail. He explained the study's purpose, stating that it was to
define alignment, capital costs, ndership, and identify funding, implementation, and social and
ecological studies.
Councilmember Nelson indicated he would like presentations made both to the Planning
Commission and the City Council
Councilmember Sanger expressed her concerns about the interaction with residents and
neighborhoods and felt they should be more aggressive in community participation.
Councilmember Latz suggested setting up interactive e-mail correspondence.
Mr Meyer inquired if the routing would occur east of St. Louis Park Ms. Walker replied that it
could be done through the Kenilworth alignment. Mr. Meyer also questioned if the overall
objective of the project was to establish an alignment and Ms. Walker responded that they were
looking to establish the alignment by the end of the study
Councilmember Bnmeyer asked about any legislation passed that affected the project. Ms.
Walker replied that legislation had been passed that prohibited the Metropolitan Council to move
forward with busway options in several surrounding cities.
Councilmember Velick inquired if it was possible that this alignment would connect to the
Hiawatha project and Ms. Walker replied that it could.
Councilmember Bnmeyer wanted to know the cost of this study and Ms. Walker stated that it
would be $400,000.
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Councilmembers Nelson and Sanger both expressed their opinions that the study does not have
early resident input and is lacking in neighborhood discussions. Mr. Meyer would like the
Council to define what is lacking in the process.
Council discussed the impact on traffic, freight, and surrounding properties. Councilmember
Latz stated that he did not want to see the exclusion of residents in the process and then having to
proceed with reactive measures to the issues. Councilmember Nelson suggested having the
City's Community Outreach Coordinator, Martha McDonell, involved. Councilmember Sanger
felt more information needed to be given to residents. Councilmember Sanger also asked Ms.
Walker if the study could include possible purchase of any additional right-of-way to permit both
freight rail and LRT in the SW corndor, and she agreed to do that.
2. Housing Improvement Area— Cedar Trails Condominium Association
Ms. Schnitker gave a brief update to Council stating that Cedar Trails has fulfilled their
requirements except the petition to Council and the improvements meet Vision St. Louis Park,
Comprehensive Plan, and Housing policies.
Ms. Schnitker introduced Mark Ruff and Stacie Kvilvang from Ehler's and Associates.
Ms. Larsen reported that the intended improvements were to correct deferred maintenance
problems from the past and all improvements were qualified because they were common
improvements that can be used by the whole association. She stated that the condominiums are
qualified for such a loan because of the valuation of them compared to other housing in the city.
Bill Drusser, Cedar Trails Association Board President, Julia Bielawski, Vice-President, and
Kitty Francen, Board member at large, were also present at the meeting.
Councilmember Nelson inquired about the fees to repay the loan and what would happen if they
defaulted. Mr. Harmening said that it would be levied to the property taxes. Mr. Ruff explained
the two options for financing, G.O. bonds or an internal loan. He stated that Ms. McGann
preferred the internal funding. Council discussed the different options and the length of
repayment. Council would does not want to see maintenance deferred again on the property and
have this resource looked at again in fifteen and twenty years. Council also did not want this to
set precedence for others in the city. Councilmember Sanger did not feel that would be a
problem due to the fact that the majority of other properties are valued above the maximum
amount allowed for in the program.
Council agreed to move forward and Mr. Harmening stated that staff would work with the
association to bring forward the petition.
3. 2002 Sidewalk Improvement Projects
Mr. Rardin gave an overview of the eight sidewalks and trails projects for the year 2002 and the
State Aid involved. He discussed the public process that has been involved so far and
recommended moving on with the projects.
Council discussed issues such as narrower roads and side lots, parking, and cost. Council agreed
to authorize the projects.
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4. Solid Waste Program Change
Mr. Rardin gave a brief overview of the suggested changes to the program and the possible
expansion of recycling collection to high-density residential buildings.
Councilmember Santa stated that she had received feedback from residents that recycling is not
offered in their multi-family building. Council discussed the options available to high-density
residential buildings in terms of recycling and the cost of such. Councilmember Nelson
suggested mandatory recycling with trash service and Councilmember Santa proposed including
it in the same category as commercial districts
Mr. Meyer brought up the topic of providing incentives to recycle to the high-density residential
buildings. Council discussed the advantages and disadvantages to the issue. They spoke about a
public process and would like to further explore options for the commercial districts as well
Councilmember Bnmeyer suggested involving the St. Louis Park Business Council.
Mr. Rardin spoke about the degradation of the recycling product when single-stream recycling is
used. Council agreed not to move toward single-stream recycling.
Councilmember Nelson felt that curbside-only collection would be viable in some situations.
Councilmembers Velick and Sanger did not agree. The Council decided not to pursue curbside-
only collection as an option.
Council discussed the ments of providing carts to homeowners for their collection and would
like to move forward with that concept.
Council discussed reduced yardwaste service Mr. Rardin explained that citizens could be given
the choice to sign up for the reduced yardwaste service. If residents chose this service, they
would receive a yearly credit on their bill for fifty dollars. Council discussed this option and it
was clarified for some members of the Council. Ms. Sanger expressed her concerns that some
residents may not sign up for the service and then not dispose of the yardwaste properly.
Councilmember Sanger inquired about a clean-up day for residents in the city and the staff that
would be needed to accommodate that effort Council discussed means of funding the clean-up
and about different needs such as computer and hazardous waste removal. Council agreed to
move forward with a citywide clean-up day.
Council discussed opening the solid waste contract up to bids Councilmembers Velick and
Sanger were in favor of receiving bids. Councilmember Bnmeyer stated that he was not in
support of opening up the project to bids but would consider negotiating terms of the current
contract. Councilmembers Nelson and Santa felt that the new program should be put in place
with the service changes recommended by Council before any such action should be considered.
5. Building at Oak Park Village (Louisiana Oaks Park)
Councilmember Bnmeyer expressed his concerns about the amount of storage space in the
building. He inquired if the associations were aware that funding would not allow for more
storage; Mr. Meyer replied that they were not as yet. Councilmember Sanger considered the
possibility that the associations could contribute to create more storage space if needed. Mr.
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Meyer stated that staff felt that the cost per square foot of the building is too high to be using the
space for storage and that staff would work with the athletic programs to find more cost effective
alternatives for storage.
6. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
ty Clerk M. 'or /